TACOMA — It might as well have been the same game plan of the last three decades against Foss.
Run left, right and up the middle.
Whatever direction the Wolves chose was successful as they closed out their season with a 41-25 win Friday against the Falcons at Mount Tahoma High School.
“Up front in the trenches, the kids did a very nice job,” South coach Eric Canton said. “We pretty much were able to run any sort of play we wanted to in between the tackles. That’s just a credit to the linemen.”
The outcome of the first game between the schools since 2008 rarely was in doubt beyond the first quarter. The Falcons (6-4) took advantage of a fumble recovery to set up a 14-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback John Moore to junior wide receiver Mike Cock’e that gave them a 6-0 lead with 5:56 minutes left in the first quarter.
It was Foss’ only advantage of the game.
South (4-6), which suffered just its third losing season since 1977, scored 21 unanswered points to close out the opening period. A 21-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Cooper Canton to senior wide receiver Dylan Garcia was sandwiched by 1- and 13-yard touchdown runs by backup signal-caller Michael Fitch and running back Marshaud DeWalt, respectively.
The teams then traded scores in the second quarter as Moore scored on an 11-yard run and DeWalt, a junior, later followed with a 17-yard run to give the Wolves a 28-12 halftime advantage.
DeWalt then effectively ended any hope of the Falcons beating South for the first time since 1979 when he scored on a 3-yard run with 8:26 remaining in the third quarter to extend his team’s lead to 34-12. The Wolves now have won 23 consecutive games against Foss.
“I’m proud of our kids,” Canton said. “We went through some adversity last week [against Central Kitsap] and we bounced back. We played well and with a lot of emotion. It was nice to see.”
DeWalt, who rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries, and several other starters departed after that score. Despite that, South extended its lead to as much as 41-12 early in the fourth quarter on a 6-yard touchdown run by senior Randy Macalino.
Moore capped the scoring with 43- and 33-yard touchdown passes to senior Nick Burton and junior Chris “Scooby” Reynolds, respectively.
While Canton hoped to finish the season in the playoffs, he was pleased to see his seniors end the season with a positive outcome.
“It’s always tough when it’s over,” he said. “I want to thank the seniors for everything they’ve given. I wish them the best of luck.”
South Kitsap 41, at Foss 25
South Kitsap 21 7 6 7 – 41
Foss 6 6 0 13 – 25
First Quarter
F-Mike Cock’e 14 pass from John Moore (run failed)
SK-Michael Fitch 1 run (Kees Metselaar kick)
SK-Dylan Garcia 21 pass from Cooper Canton (Metselaar kick)
SK-Marshaud DeWalt 13 run (Metselaar kick)
Second Quarter
F-Moore 11 run (pass failed)
SK-DeWalt 17 run (Metselaar kick)
Third Quarter
SK-DeWalt 3 run (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
SK-Randy Macalino (Metselaar kick)
F-Nick Burton 43 pass from Moore (run failed)
F-Chris “Scooby” Reynolds 33 pass from Moore (Henrique Tapias kick)
Individual statistics
Passing-Cooper Canton (SK) 4-8-0-84, Michael Fitch (SK) 1-3-1-34, John Moore (F) 10-24-2-171.
Rushing-Marshaud DeWalt (SK) 16-125, Fitch (SK) 1-1, Canton (SK) 1-8, Ramon Marin (SK) 1-10, Li’ i Kalima (SK) 3-52, Angelo Vigil (SK) 5-5, Randy Macalino (SK) 7-28, CJ Gill (SK) 4-9, Jeffrey Williams (SK) 1-1, Moore (F) 10-100, Keyon Lowery (F) 4-2, Devon Clark (F) 9-31, Marquis Jenkins (F) 3-7, Parshay Small (F) 6-31, Gavin Stewart (F) 1-13, Alonzo Jones (F) 1–2, Ki’i Hutchenson (F) 1-12.
Receiving-Marcus Burk (SK) 2-49, Dylan Garcia (SK) 2-55, Logan Knowles (SK) 1-14, Jones (F) 2-20, Malik Smith (F) 2-16, Mike Cock’e (F) 2-29, Nick Burton (F) 3-23, Chris “Scooby” Reynolds (F) 1-33.
